Developing apparatus



Feb. 4, 1930. R. F. ALLIN DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29. 192"! 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 4, 1930. R. F. ALLlN DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD FRED ALLIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR' 'IO EUGENE DIETZGEN COM- ?ANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS DEVELOPING APPARATUS Application filed August 29, 1927. Serial No. 216,259.

My lnvention relates to devices for developing photoprint paper and more particularly to the type of devices wherein the paper, such as Ozalid paper, is developed by subjecting it to the fumes generated by a'developing liquid such as ammonia.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device of this character which is constructed and arranged so that the developing tower or tube may be detached from the ammonia cup in which the fumes are generated whereby to facilitate removal of the developed paper and wherein means is provided for preventing escape of the obnoxious fumes while the tube or tower is so removed; to provide a construction. wherein the ammonia cup is substantially enclosed, to prevent the escape of the fumes and wherein the cup may be filled through a spout located on the outside of the enclosed cup; to provide a construction wherein the base or support forming the ammonia cup is adapted to support the developing tube or tower directly over the cup so that the fumes can rise upwardly therethrough and to provide for the easy detachment of the tower from the cup; to provide a construction of the character described wherein the tube or tower is formed of glass so that the development of the paper can be observed at all times; to provide the tube with a facile and simple means for supporting the roll of paper within the tube from its lower end and in a manner so that the bore of the tube is not obstructed by the supporting means; to provide a lid for the enclosed ammonia cup which lid is operated from a point outside of the enclosed cup; to provide means for preventing the escape of the fumes through the lid operating mechanism; to provide means for retaining the lid in open or closed position and to provide other objects of invention which will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure l isa perspective view partly in section showing my improved developing apparatvs with the lid in open position.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the various parts,

Figure 3,is a plan view on line 33 of Figure 4 and Figure 4 is a section on line H of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my improved device comprises a base or support 2, preferably a metal casting. In its preferred construction this base is formed as a substantially circular, fiat disk having centrally located upstanding walls 4 forming a central Well 6 adapted to receive the usual ammonia cup 8 in which is contained the ammonia or other substance or liquid for generating the developing fumes. The upper portions of the upstanding walls, which walls are preferably circular in cross section, are preferably tapered on their outer faces and are formed with a shoulder 10 detachably to receive .the developing tube or tower 12 the interior of which forms the developing chamber as hereinafter explained.

I preferably form the casting with laterally disposed upstanding walls forming a preferably circular well 14 for receiving a quantity of the liquid. This well 14; forms the filling spout of the central well 6 and ammonia cup 8. The upper inner face of the smaller well is threaded to receive the threaded closing cap 16 and the lower part of this filling, spout connects with the lower part of the central Well or ammonia cup by means of a small bore 18 formed substantially horizontally in the casting. In this manner the ammonia cup may be filled from the outside simply by removing the cap and filling the spout.

In order to keep the ammonia cup closed when not in use, or when removing the roll of paper from the developing chamber, or when removing the detachable developing tower from the ammonia cup as hereinafter described, I prgvide the central well 6 or cup 8 with. alid'20 which may be closed or opened and preferably from a point on the outside of the central upstanding walls 4. In the present construction I provide the upstanding walls with a vertical slot 22 and the outside of the walls at this slgtlwith spaced ears 24, and I form' the lid or closure 20 of a shape exactly to fit over the ammonia cup and to engage the inclined wall close the top thereof. This lid preferably lies snugly over the out-turned lateral flange of the ammonia cup as clearly seen in Figure l of the drawings. The lid at its periphery is provided with an extension 26 which is pivoted within the slot and the upper portion of the extension inside of but adjacent the pivotal mounting is formed with an upstanding part 28 of a width to fit snugly between the ears 2& so as to close the upper portion of the slot through which the extension passes. Hence when the lid 20 is closed the upper portion 28 of this extension completely closes the slot, and when the lid is open the upper face of the extension contacts the upstanding wall forming the top of the slot and the bottom of the extension contacts with the upper part of the wall forming the bottom of the slot and the sides of the extension contact with the sidewalls forming the slot throughout their entire extent so as completely to block and seal the slot through which the extension projects. This prevents escape of the fumes through this slot.

Means is provided for maintaining the lid in each of its shifted positions either open or closed. In the present form of my invention I form the outer end of the extension 30 wedgeshaped, the upper surface 32 being downwardly inclined and I provide a weight 34 of substantial length. The weight is bifurcated at its inner end and pivoted at 36 to the inner or lower part of the wedge-shaped part 30 of the extension 26; The inner end of the weight is formed with an inclined wall 38 to of the wedge. With this construction the lower face 40 of the weight is arranged to contact andrest upon the base 2 of the casting, which corresponds to the open position of'the lid; when the weight is lifted and swung about its pivot 36 the weight will take the position indicated in dotted lines wherein its center of gravity is moved inwardly towards the well and the lid 20 will then be moved down to dotted line position to close the well or ammonia cup. In this position the upper portion 28 of the extension will close the opening in the wall forming the slot. In this position the ammonia cup is cut off from the upper developing chamber.

One of the particular features of my 1nvention resides in the manner of forming the developing chamber or tower 12 as a vertical or upstanding extension of the ammoma cup and in locating it immediately over the ammonia cup whereby the fumes rising from the cup will pass upwardly through the tower and will effectively develop the roll of paper supported within the tower. In the specific construction of my invention I prefer to form the developing chamber or tower as a tube, preferably a cylindrical tube and of glass, whereby the roll being developed may be observed. In addition I provide a simple and effective means for supporting the paper roll within the tube immediately over the ammonia cup.

To this end the tube or tower 12 forming the developing chamber is formed of glass and is provided at its lower end with an inner tapering Wall to cooperate with the tapered wall 10 and shoulder of the base 2. In this manner the tube or tower is detachably held in upstanding position on the base 2 and directly over the well containing the fuming liquid so that the fumes rise directly through the tower. I also provide the lower inner and annular face of the tube with an annular notch, into which resiliently seats the wire shown in Figure 2. This wire has inwardly extending portions which form a support for the lower end of the roll of paper whereby the paper is supported in substantially vertical position so that the fumes will pass therethrough. Other arrangements for sup porting the roll within the tube'are contemplated but the present construction is most simple and effective since it does not obstruct the passageway of the tube.

It will be seen that I have provided a most simple device for the purpose disclosed; one wherein the roll of paper when developed may readily be detached from the upstanding walls forming the ammonia cup and one wherein means is provided for preventing escape of the obnoxious fumes into the room, since by depressing the pedal or weight 34 the lid is at once closed and no fumes can escape. Furthermore the ammonia cup is not only closed from its exterior and without possibility of the fumes escaping but it is also filled from the exterior through the filling spout. A construction such as herein disclosed is simple, inexpensive and effective for the developing of photo-prints of the character disclosed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support having an inner reservoir communicating with an upstanding developing chamber, a pivoted member for closing the reservoir from communication with the chamber, said chamber being constructed and arranged to support a roll of paper, and means for opening and closing the closing means from the exterior of the support.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base and an upstanding tube detachably mounted to the base and adapted to support a roll of paper on its end therein, the base extending beneath the tube to form a reservoir for fluid adapted to generate developing fumes, said reservoir having communication with the tube when the same 1s mounted to the base, and means operable from the outside of the housing for closing the reservoir to prevent the fumes entering the tube. v

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a support having an inner reservoir and an upstanding developing chamber, a filling opening located on the exterior of the support and communicating with the reservoir, means for closing the filling opening, means for supporting paper in the developing chamber, and means controlled from the outside of the support for opening and closing communication between the inner chamber and the developing chamber.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support having an-inner cup and a communicating tube rising directly above the cup, the cup being adapted to receive developing fluid for generating fumes, and the tube for receiving paper through which the fumes rise for developing the paper, a closable filling means located on'the outside of the support communicating with the inner cup for filling the latter and means located on the outside of the support for closing communication between the cup and the upstanding tube.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support having an inner ammonia cup and a communicating developing chamber adapted to receive paper to be developed, a filling spout located on the exterior of the support for supplying the chamber with fluid for generating fumes in the inner chamber, and means on the outside of the support for controlling communication between the inner chamber and the developing chamber.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support having upstanding walls forming a well adapted to receive fluid for generating fumes, the upper portion of said walls having a taper and a lower shoulder, a tube having an inner tapered face on its lower end adapted to fit the tapered walls of the support and to rest on the shoulder whereby said tube stands erect directly over and communicating with the well, said upstanding walls having a lateral bore and said support having additional upstanding walls laterally of the first mentioned upstanding walls forming a second well communicating with the lateral bore to provide a filling spout for the first mentioned well, a cover for the second well, a second opening in the upstanding walls of the first well, a lid adapted to close the open top of the first well, said lid having an extension projecting through the second opening and a weighted arm on the outer end of the extension, said arm being constructed and arranged to be shifted to hold the lid in open and closed positions.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casting, having central upcombination of a casting, having central upstanding walls forming a central well, a housing upstanding from the walls and communicating therewith to form a developing chamber, a lid adapted to close communication between the well and the chamber, an extension on the lid passing through an opening in the upstanding wall, said extension being pivoted in said opening and the extension beyond said opening having a weight pivotally mounted thereon to permit the weight to shift and cause the lid to remain in closed or open position.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casting having central upstanding walls forming a well adapted to receive liquid for generating fumes, an upstanding housing on the upper Walls of the casting and forming adeveloping chamber communicating with the well, the upstanding walls having lateral, spaced ears and an intervening slot, a lid adapted to close the well, said lid having a lateral extension pivoted in the ears and having a portion adapted to enter that portion of the slot between the ears to close the same when thelid is in one position, the outer portion of the extension having a wedge-shaped end, a Weight walls forming. a well adapted toreceive'a liquid for generating fumes, a tube fitting onto the upstanding walls to provide an upright developing chamber, the inner basal part of the tubehaving a notched portion and a resilient bracket yieldably mounted in said notch to provide an open bracket to support the lower end of a roll of paper.

11. In a device of the class described the combination of a base having upstanding walls forming a well adapted to receive a liquid for generating fumes, a cylindrical tube fitting onto the upstanding walls to provide an upright developin chamber immediately over the well, the ower part of the tube having a circular notch on its inner wall and a wire bracket resiliently lodged in the notch, said wire having inwardly extending portions to provide a support for the lower end of a roll of paper.

12. In a device of the class described the combination of a base having upstanding walls forming a well adapted to receive a liquid for generating fumes, the upper portions of said walls being shouldered and formed with a taper, a glass tube having a lower tapered portion fitting over the taper of the base so as to hold the tube detachably in uprightposition, the inner wall of the tube at its base having an annular notch and a wire coiled in the notch, and having a portion extending inwardly to provide a support for the lower end of a paper roll.

13. In combination a base having a well forming an ammonia cup, and a tube detachably mounted on the ammonia cup, means within the tube for supporting the lower end of a paper roll and means operable from the exterior of said cup for closing the ammonia cup when the glass tube is removed.

14. In combination a basehaving a well forming an ammonia cup, a tubular housing forming a vertical extension for the ammonia cup, means for supporting the lower end of a paper roll within the tube, a shiftable closure for said cup and means for operating the closure without removing the housing from the cup or for operating the closure when the housing is removed;

I 15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support formed to provide an'open reservoir for holding a liquid adapted to evolve a gaseous developing medium, means communicating with said reservoir providing an air-tight developing chamber directly overlying and upstanding from said reservoir, a closure for the said reservoir, and an operating member for shifting said closure whereby to open and close the same topermit the developing medium to rise from said reservoir when open, means for supporting light sensitive material in said developing chamber above said reservoir and means located on the outside of said reservoir and developing chamber for operating said closure whereby said reservoir may be controlled without permitting the escape of the gaseous developing medium into the atmosphere.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

RICHARD FRED ALLIN. 

